He’s been called the “Quincy Jones of hip-hop” for his work with 2009’s “Stop the Violence” project, collaborating with likes of KRS-One, Nelly, Ne-Yo, Redman, and Bone Thugs and Harmony.

His collaboration with Jadakiss and Faith Evans on the song “Letter to B.I.G.” was featured in the hit biopic “Notorious,” about the late rapper Notorious B.I.G. Ramos’ talents have crossed genres as well – he’s remixed tracks for Wisin and Yandel that have spent weeks at the top of Billboard’s Latin charts.

And most recently, “Ain’t Lookin’ Back,” a rap track he wrote and performed himself, is getting major play in comedian Kevin Hart’s upcoming film “Let Me Explain,” to be released in 3,000 theaters nationwide July 3.

It’s an impressive resume rife with accomplishments, but Ramos hopes one day soon he’ll add a new one that’s a lot more New Bedford-oriented but very close to his heart.

“I’d love to be awarded the Key to the City,” he says, noting he’s in town frequently to visit family members still living in the area. “That would mean a whole lot to me – a big honor.” He even lets the city share in the glory of his inclusion on “Let Me Explain,” making sure the film’s credits noted that “Ain’t Looking Back” was recorded in New Bedford, Mass.

Raised on the city’s South End, Ramos was attracted to music early on, rapping at parties when he was just 12 years old. His talents attracted the attention of a New Jersey production company headed by Amelia and Kevin Moore, and soon managers Eli Barrett, Moe Burgo, Richard Hannah, Kevin Gibson and DJ Joe were booking performances for him in Boston, New Jersey, Connecticut, and at the legendary Apollo Theater in New York. In 1993, his friend Russell Ramos (no relation) bought the young rapper a one-way plane ticket to L.A. to support his pal’s musical ambitions. He’s been on the West Coast ever since.

Not that it was all glory, he says, noting that the lyrics to "Ain't Looking Back" describe "the grind of being in the music business for 28 years."

"It follows the days when I was living house-to-house, sleeping couch-to-couch, trying to break into the business to when I finally achieved some success," he says. "I was willing to do whatever I had to do, I just knew I wasn't going to quit and go back home. For me to get this break and have the song in the movie, I almost felt like God wanted me to tell the real story, that if you work hard enough and don't give up, you can accomplish the things you set out to do."

Discouraged by early attempts to get record labels interested in his music, an ambitious Ramos managed to sneak backstage at a Big Daddy Kane concert and play the legendary rapper some of his music. The daring feat paid off — Kane ended up recording one of Ramos' songs.

After an unpleasant bout with bad management, Ramos landed a publishing deal that made him financially stable, and he eventually signed as an artist to Warner Bros.' German label. But it was his production work in the studio that would most enhance his reputation in Hollywood, leading to collaborations with a veritable Who's Who of the hip-hop world.

"It's exciting to be in the studio with a major artist and help them put together music," he says. "And then hearing it on the radio — that's the part of success that never gets old."

Despite all the glamour and action that abounds in L.A., Ramos says he still misses the Whaling City.

"I miss my coffee milk," he laughs. "I miss my linguica. But most of all, I miss my family. That's part of the reason I keep so busy out here in L.A. — it distracts me from being homesick."

Still, Ramos feels his move to California was almost pre-ordained.

"The first time I came to L.A. was when I was 4 years old," he recalls. "When we got on the plane, the pilot handed me a wings pin since it was my first flight and told me I'd come back to California someday. I'm 40 years old now and I still have those wings.

"What I want to tell people in New Bedford is that I was just a kid on the South End who had a vision of making it, and due to my faith in God and in myself, I made it back to California. The lesson is to never give up."